A Reminder to Rise

Lotus by Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo ©2000

To celebrate the full bloom case of spring (here in the northern hemisphere), I’ve picked a flower for you. It’s not just any flower, but the richly symbolic lotus flower.

In Indian tradition, the Lotus is a fount of creation, source of possibilities. In Buddhist art, enlightened beings sit or stand on lotuses. When a foot is outstretched, a lotus blooms where it steps. There are countless stories of divine beings arising from lotuses.

These fertile lotus flowers symbolize innate purity arising in the world.

Lotuses don’t grow in Tibet, so the ones that appear in Tibetan art are stylized, not realistic — like the stylized Tibetan elephants with paws… but that’s another story for another post!

Students in the Stitching Buddhas Virtual Apprentice Program use this lotus design as their syllabus. Over the course of six months, they learn the fundamental techniques of Tibetan appliqué while creating a beautiful lotus. In this way, the ever-fertile lotus gives birth to thangka-makers as well!

The natural lotus flower grows out of mud at the bottom of murky swamps. Untainted by that mud, it rises through the water and emerges from it — immaculately beautiful.

In the same way, the awakened compassion and wisdom of buddhas arise from the confusion of our ordinary world.

This world so full of destructive emotions is also the place where we can become buddhas, where we can awaken from our ignorance and see reality as it is. This is the potential we all possess, right here where we are.

I’ve made a few of these silken Lotuses. And each one invites me to recognize that I don’t have to wait until everything is perfect, till my life calms down, till my circumstances improve, till anybody else gets on board. The lotus blooms right in the middle of the chaos. It grows out of the mud, unsullied by it. Perfectly beautiful in midst of the muck.

How often do you remember the innate beauty of your own heart in the midst of your muck?

If you’re like me, you need lots of reminding.

Click here to purchase the print now.

Hang the lotus where you’ll see it every day. Remind yourself always that the brilliance of your heart’s potential is never ever damaged by the muck of temporary circumstances.